At dawn, the first athletes pass through the gates of the Creps (Center of Resources, Expertise, and Sporting Performance) in Antibes.
Some are just coming out of the dormitory, others arrive already dressed, focused.
In the halls, on the fields, or at sea, the days follow a precise rhythm. Here, everything matters.
Each session, each recovery moment, or hour of sleep contributes to the same goal: performing at the highest level. There are 140 athletes, from 12 to 35 years old and older, training year-round.
Ten disciplines coexist, from gymnastics to sailing, including swimming, basketball, and tennis.
“A third of our structures concern athletes capable of performing at the international level. The others are moving towards the highest level,” explains Vincent Olla, head of the high-level department.
A balance that nourishes a collective dynamic, where the younger ones learn from experienced athletes in a structured environment focused on excellence and progress.
“Dynamic motor profiling is done to understand the needs of each athlete, then a preventive athletization is implemented,” details Christophe Keller, physical trainer.
An approach aimed at limiting injuries while developing specific qualities for each discipline.
The site also has specific tools, such as a heat acclimatization room used to prepare athletes for competitions in extreme conditions.
“This allows us to work differently and optimize certain physiological capacities,” he explains. A focus on detail that makes a difference at the highest level.
A collaboration with the City:
However, the Creps faces a unique constraint in its field: it does not have its own facilities. A constraint turned into an advantage thanks to a close partnership with the City.
Athletes train in reference facilities such as municipal swimming pools or the Azur Arena.
“We would not have the capacity to have this type of infrastructure here. This partnership allows athletes to evolve in optimal conditions,” emphasizes Vincent Olla.
This operation is also part of a federal logic. The federations establish their structures, choose coaches, and define needs.
The Creps complements this ecosystem by providing the necessary supervision, services, and support for performance.
Training Educators:
In addition to high-level training, the site also plays a central role in training sports educators.
Today, this historical mission is focused on several areas, particularly in aquatic and land domains.
In the aquatic sector, training programs prepare future swimming instructors and specialized educators.
“We train professionals capable of intervening in security, learning, and improvement,” explains Christel Clapies, in charge of aquatic training.
In the land sector, supervised training programs, led by Nicolas Musso, cater to various profiles, from sports coaches to physical trainers. They incorporate the latest developments in training, prevention, and support.
“Our goal is to train educators capable of adapting to all audiences, from leisure to high level,” he explains.
This dual mission of training and supporting directly fuels the Creps project.
Prospects evolve alongside athletes, observing and absorbing the requirements of the field.
Some athletes train up to 30 hours a week:
Performance also relies on a fundamental principle: the dual project.
Each athlete must balance intensive practice with schooling or work. Partnerships with establishments in Antibes help adjust schedules.
“Some athletes train up to 30 hours a week. The rest has to be organized around it,” highlights Vincent Olla.
The goal: maintaining a necessary balance for success. “We also work on marginal gains and well-being. Our role is to ensure everything flows smoothly around training,” summarizes Caroline Gazele, deputy director of Creps Paca and director of the Antibes site.
In Antibes, performance is built as much on effort as on balance.
A model that aims to remain human-sized, where excellence is combined with support, explaining why year after year, the Creps attracts athletes seeking a comprehensive framework for progression.
The history of the walls:
Established on the historical site of Fort Carré, the Creps has had several lives before becoming the reference center it is today.
Originally, the imposing and austere fort served as a military zone. The army decides to build a barracks nearby, where the Creps currently resides, intended for logistics to complement existing active facilities.
The site quickly transformed into a training center for sports instructors in the army, giving birth to the famous Antibes battalion.
Dormitories became lecture halls, small rooms housed fencing or boxing, and the daring course of the fort, with its arches and ledges, served as demanding training ground.
“We are still imbued with this history. Every year, we have the baptism of the Antibes battalion, with former residents who lived here, and some of today’s rooms were dormitories or small sports rooms,” explains Caroline Gazele.
Taken over by the Ministry of Youth and Sports:
In 1970, the Ministry of Youth and Sports took over the facilities, with the mission of training sports educators and hosting the public for courses and training.
The Creps kept its acronym while changing its vocation: from a regional center for physical and sports education, it became a center of resources and expertise in sports performance.
Today, under dual supervision – the Ministry for high-level sports and the Region for heritage and reception – the site merges history and modernity, offering an excellent framework for sports training while retaining traces of its military past.
The gymnast from the French team regularly trains at the Creps in Antibes.
A guarantee to work in the best conditions.
Why do you train at the Creps in Antibes?
“I mainly come to work with heavy weights on the rings, it’s a very specific training for my discipline. After a bicep injury, I also set up, with Christophe Keller, my physical trainer, a prevention and re-athletization program. Here, I have the tools to work thoroughly, progress physically, and secure my training over the long term. We have been working together for several years, and today, everything is going really well.”
What role does supervision play in your preparation?
“It is essential. Christophe accompanies me before and after competitions to adjust the preparation and avoid injuries. Having regular follow-up allows for individualizing the work, being attentive to the body, and adapting the loads according to periods. This supervision also brings serenity on a daily basis.”
What does the Creps bring you concretely?
“It is a very professional structure. We have everything on-site: equipment, physical monitoring, support. This allows us to focus solely on performance without wasting time. The environment is also important: we are surrounded by other high-level athletes, which creates additional dynamics and demands.”
Can the Creps be compared to the INSEP?
“It’s different, but the Creps offers a very complete environment. For me, it’s a bit like a mini INSEP: you can prepare in very good conditions, in a more contained environment, perhaps calmer also, while maintaining a high level of demands for major international events.”
1. National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance, based in Paris.
